Antemoro Paper

Many people can appreciate a good handcraft. In fact, some people like handcrafts but will complain about the price. But I honestly think it’s because we, especially in America, often fail to see the unique talents and skills it takes to produce something by hand. For example, in Madagascar they make wild silk scarves. They have to feed the silk worms out there in the wild because quite frankly silk worms are dumb, harvest the cocoons, roll out the cocoons into thread, make the dye from onion peels, avocados, flowers, etc., dye the rolled out thread, and then get it on a loom and weave it all together in just the right way so it doesn’t come out wonky or lopsided. The whole process, including the dying, as I was told by one of the weavers, takes about a full week. If it is just the weaving of the scarf, a full two days of someone at the loom. And so the fact that one scarf costs 80,000MGA (not even $20) seems pretty reasonable.

But the art that I think I love the most in Madagascar is that of the antemoro paper. This kind of art starts with bamboo. They peel the bamboo into little strips, grind it the best they can, add water, grind it again, then pour it over a large frame with a mesh to allow the water to seep through. Afterwards they spread it thin over the mesh and let it dry in the sun. This creates the paper, which is interesting enough. Then, they press flowers and dry them out before applying them onto the paper to make beautiful cards, bangs, envelopes, and other decorations.

While I was in Antsirabe, I was able to see one of the smaller-scale antemoro paper facilities. Literally it’s just a courtyard where they do all the above, leaving them out to dry on sunny days and rushing everything inside when there’s overcast.

Interestingly enough I learned about this craft in my French class in university. I found it intriguing then, and never really thought that I would actually buy some one day or see it being made in person. And the fascinating thing is that there are a lot of crafts like this one. Different cities have different specialties whereas some others have a mix of trades. Ambositra is known for wood crafts (I have a few statues from there). Fianarantsoa is known for the antemoro paper. Antsirabe has a bit of everything. And of course, everyone sends their wares to Tana where there is the highest concentration of foreigners interested in purchasing them.

Anyways, I always love a good craft and, despite my frugality, am usually willing to purchase little things like this because I find them so beautiful and the skill to make them so valuable. The human hands can do great things, you know.

As always, know that you are in my prayers each morning. All I ask is that you do the same for me.

May God be praised.